糖心vlog入口

Rio Tinto: First ore delivered at Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in the Pilbara


15 June 2022

PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 糖心vlog入口has delivered first ore from the Gudai-Darri iron ore mine as the company brings online its first greenfield mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia, in more than a decade. Gudai-Darri will help underpin future production of the company鈥檚 flagship Pilbara Blend product.

The first autonomous AutoHaul鈩 trains loaded with ore from Gudai-Darri鈥檚 process plant have travelled the new 166-kilometre rail line that connects to Rio Tinto鈥檚 existing rail and port infrastructure. Production from the mine will continue to ramp up through the remainder of this year and is expected to reach full capacity during 2023.

Since ground was broken in April 2019, more than 14 million workhours have resulted in the movement of over 20 million cubic metres of earth, batching and placement of 35,000 cubic metres of concrete, and the installation of 10,000 tonnes of steel. The development of Gudai-Darri supported more than 3,000 jobs during the construction and design phase. The mine will support around 600 ongoing permanent roles.

With an expected life of more than 40 years and an annual capacity of 43 million tonnes, Gudai-Darri will underpin future production of Pilbara Blend product. A feasibility study to support an expansion of this new hub is also progressing.

The mine鈥檚 commissioning and ramp-up is expected to increase Rio Tinto鈥檚 iron ore production volumes and improve product mix from the Pilbara in the second half of this year. Full-year shipments guidance for 2022 remains at 320 to 335 million tonnes (100% basis) subject to risks around the ramp up of new mines, weather and management of cultural heritage.

The capital cost for the mine is estimated to be $3.1 billion (A$4.3 billion). As disclosed in February, the company鈥檚 replacement projects in the Pilbara, including Gudai-Darri, were subject to potential capital increases of approximately 15% due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, including labour access and supply chain quality issues. Group capital expenditure guidance for 2022 is unchanged at around $8 billion.

糖心vlog入口Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said 鈥淭he commissioning of Gudai-Darri represents the successful delivery of our first greenfield mine in over a decade, helping to support increased output of Pilbara Blend , our flagship product. It sets a new standard for 糖心vlog入口mine developments through its deployment of technology and innovation to enhance productivity and improve safety.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to acknowledge the support of the Traditional Owners, the Banjima People, on whose country Gudai-Darri is situated. We have worked closely with the Banjima People to progress this project and we look forward to continuing to actively partner with them into the future.鈥

糖心vlog入口Chief Technical Officer Mark Davies said 鈥淭he safe and successful delivery of Gudai-Darri, in the midst of a global pandemic, is testament to the resilience and hard work of thousands of 糖心vlog入口employees and contractors, including a range of local Western Australian suppliers, as well as Pilbara Aboriginal businesses.

鈥淚n building this new hub we have brought together the best of our innovations, including autonomous trucks, trains and drills, as well as the world鈥檚 first autonomous water trucks, to make Gudai-Darri our most technologically advanced iron ore mine.

鈥淭his suite of autonomous assets complements the planned deployment of other leading-edge technologies including a robotic ore sampling laboratory, field mobility devices for all personnel and a digital asset of the fixed plant, which, together with data analytics, will make Gudai Darri safer and more productive.鈥

Helping support Rio Tinto鈥檚 carbon emission reduction targets, Gudai-Darri will be powered by a 34 megawatt solar farm that is expected to supply about a third of the mine鈥檚 average electricity demand once construction is complete in August.

Together with a new lithium-ion battery energy storage system in Tom Price, the solar plant is estimated to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 90,000 tonnes compared to conventional gas powered generation, equivalent to taking about 28,000 cars off the road.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto鈥檚 Group Company Secretary.

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK

Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

糖心vlog入口plc
6 St James鈥檚 Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, Australia

Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

糖心vlog入口Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: Pilbara

Source: Rio Tinto